Police donate cars to college program

ST. AUGUSTINE Police Chief Loran K. Leuders hands over the keys to two retired police cars to Glen Moore, SJRCC provost of the St. Augustine campus.

Contributed Photo St. Johns River Community College's Criminal Justice Academy recently received a donation of two police cars from the St. Augustine Police Department -- a donation that helps recruits receive the required training in police vehicle operations.

"We are very fortunate to have such tremendous support from all of our local agencies," said Anna Lebesch, college vice president of Workforce Development.

Police Chief Loran K. Leuders said he is glad to have the opportunity to help the academy. The 2001 Ford Crown Victorias have about 60,000 miles on them and would otherwise be sent to auction for sale.

SJRCC director of criminal justice training Les Stern said the academy is required by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to use police cars, not necessarily new ones, to train recruits in vehicle operations.

The cars will be marked with the academy logo and equipped with lights and a siren. Worth about $4,000 each, they are also marked to indicate that they are donated by a particular agency. Stern said the academy likes to have at least five cars available for the training that takes place on the police track.

The cars do not have to be new, but the academy prefers that the cars not have an excessive amount of miles on them to ensure recruit safety.

Without the donations, Stern said the academy has to purchase the cars from dealers.

Earlier this year, the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office donated two 1999 Ford Crown Victorias with lights and sirens, and these cars are already in use on the track, said Stern. The Clay County Commission and Sheriff's Office donated two cars last year.

For information, call the Criminal Justice Department at (904) 808-7490 or go to sjrcc.edu.